Cold air containment system in a data centre

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for containing cold air in a corridor created on the side of a computer cabinet. The method includes providing a base mountable on the computer cabinet, and providing a panel fastened to the base and moveable with respect to the base, the panel being suitable for separating the cold air in the corridor below the panel from the hot air above the panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No.13/670,693, entitled “Cold Air Containment System in a Data Centre”,filed Nov. 7, 2012, which published Mar. 14, 2013, as U.S. PatentPublication No. 2013/00620037 A1, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 13/161,801, entitled “Cold Air Containment System in a Data Centre”,filed Jun. 16, 2011, which was published on Apr. 5, 2012, as U.S. PatentPublication No. 2012/0083197 A1, and which claims priority from EuropeanPatent Application No. 10306067.9, filed Sep. 30, 2010, each of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

One efficient way to cool IT resources is to contain the air inrespective corridors. There are two different ways to do thecontainment: hot corridor containment and cold corridor containment.

Cold corridor containment is more efficient when the cooling is atraditional cooling (air coming from the raised floor with CRACS), whichrepresents a large majority of the cooling systems used today in datacentres.

European Application No. EP 2059105 A1, by Gallmann, discloses aconstellation of racks that form an aisle between them and all coolingair supply sides of all racks face the aisle. The aisle is covered ontop and at both ends against leaking air.

United States Patent Publication No. 2010/0061057 A1, by Dersch et al.,discloses an air containment system with a plurality of flexible panelassemblies configured to be arranged in side-to-side relation to form aceiling.

United States Patent Publication No. 2010/0188816 A1, by Bean et al.,discloses an air containment cooling system for containing and coolingair between two rows of equipment racks including a canopy assemblyconfigured to enclose a hot aisle defined by the rows of equipmentracks, and a cooling system embedded within the canopy assembly.

Existing systems are complex and it is desirable to have an improvedsystem for containing air in a cold corridor in a data centre.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method is presentedfor containing a cold air flow in a corridor of a data centre. Themethod includes, for instance: providing a base, adapted for beingmounted on top of a first cabinet for receiving at least one computersystem; and providing a panel, which is attached to the base, whereinthe panel can move with respect to the base between a closed positionand a deployed position, so that in the closed position, the panel layson the base, and in the deployed position, the aggregate width of thepanel and the base is approximately twice the aggregate width of thepanel and the base in the closed position.

In another aspect, a method is provided which includes: providing acabinet for receiving at least one computer system; and providing asystem for containing a cold air flow in a corridor in a data centremounted on top of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet at least partiallyforms the corridor. The system includes: a base, adapted for beingmounted on top of the cabinet for receiving at least one computersystem; and a panel, which is attached to the base, wherein the panelcan move with respect to the base between a closed position and adeployed position, so that in the closed position, the panel lays on thebase, and in the deployed position, the aggregate width of the panel andthe base is approximately twice the aggregate width of the panel and thebase in the closed position.

In a further aspect, a method for optimizing configuration of a cold aircorridor in a data centre is provided. The data centre includes aplurality of cabinets defining the corridor, and a plurality of systems.The plurality of systems contains cold air flow in the corridor and ismounted on top of respective cabinets of the plurality of cabinets. Eachsystem includes a base, adapted for mounting to the top of a respectivecabinet, and a panel attached to the base. The panel reciprocates withrespect to the base between a closed position and a deployed position.In the closed position, the panel lays on the base, and in the deployedposition, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximatelytwice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closedposition. Further, actuating means are provided for changing the panel'sposition between the closed position and the deployed position, andcontrol means are provided for controlling the actuating means to allowa user to choose which panel of the plurality of panels should be moved.The method includes: selecting a layout of the corridor among a set ofpossible corridor layouts; selecting a width for the corridor;controlling the plurality of systems using the control means so as toconfigure the corridor according to the layout and the width; measuringthe effects of the corridor configuration on the performance of thecooling system; and determining whether the selected layout and widthimproves performance of the cooling system.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointedout and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusionof the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a data centre comprising a system, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a system where a panel can slide withrespective to a base, in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3A & 3B show another embodiment of a system where the panel canrotate with respect to the base around a horizontal or vertical axis, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a data centre with an arrangement of two cabinets, eachwith a system mounted on top thereof, in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of a system, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of cabinets, some of them having one embodimentof a system mounted thereon, in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of two cabinets in connection with whichaspects of the present invention can be implemented, comprising:

-   -   a first cabinet (100);    -   a second cabinet (105);    -   a panel (110) on top of the two cabinets; and    -   a base (115) mounted on top of the first cabinet (100).

The panel (110) is attached to the base (115). The panel (110) isfurther arranged between the two cabinets so as to form a corridor belowthe panel and between the sides of the cabinets. Such corridor can beused to contain a cold air flow (130) coming from the raised floor (120)with CRACS. The cold air flow can only go into the cabinet to circulate,thus cooling the computer system mounted in the cabinet (100, 105). Theair comes out of the cabinet as hot air (140, 145) and goes up. It thencirculates (150) towards a cooling system not represented on thepicture. The term cabinet will be preferentially used in the presentdescription. However, some references of the prior art uses the termrack or computer rack instead, whereas a rack is used for mountingcomputer systems inside a cabinet. It is intended to apply the teachingsof the present invention to any systems equivalents to a computercabinet, including a rack.

In an implementation of the present invention, the panel (110) isattached to a base (115), which is itself attached to first cabinet(100). The base can be mounted, fixed, screwed, glued, nailed orsoldered on the cabinet or further attached using any other equivalenttechniques for attaching the base to the top of the cabinet (100). Thepanel functions as a blocking member. It can be flat or concave,corrugated or domed. It can have a rectangular shape, square, or othershape.

In FIG. 1, the panel (110) is represented in a deployed position incontact with a vertical surface, the vertical surface being in FIG. 1the side of the other cabinet (105) facing the cabinet (100) on top ofwhich an implementation of a system, comprising one or more aspects ofthe present invention is mounted. When the panel is in the deployedposition, and when the base is mounted on the first cabinet and thepanel is further in contact with a vertical surface, the panel, thefirst cabinet and the vertical surface can form a corridor where coldair can flow below the panel and into the first cabinet, and the panelcan separate the cold air flow from hot air flow above the panel. In thedeployed position, the aggregate width of the panel and the base isapproximately twice the width of the aggregate width of the panel andthe base in the closed position. The panel (110) can be put in a closedposition, not represented in the figure. In the closed position, thepanel (110) would lay on the base, on top of the cabinet (100). In thisposition, the system formed by the cabinet, the base and the panel (110)does not occupy much more space than the cabinet itself. To that end, apanel with dimensions compliant with standard cabinet positions may beused.

To improve efficiency of air containment in the corridor below thepanel, the panel can further comprise, on its side opposite to the sideattached to the base, means for fastening such side to a surface. Suchmeans can be fabric hook-and-loop fasteners, screws, rivets, latch orany other device which mechanically joins the panel (110) and thesurface together. The means for fastening can also rely on magneticforce to join the side of the panel to the surface, as with a magneticlock. The panel can further comprise a release mechanism for detachingthe fastening means, either by a mechanical action, or by suppressingthe aforementioned magnetic force. For example, the fastening means onthe panel can be an electromagnet, which can form a magnetic lock withan armature plate attached to the surface when an electric current issupplied to the electromagnet. Suppression of the electric current wouldcause the magnetic force to stop and the magnetic lock to open. Thereexist many implementations available for mechanical or magneticfastening means and releasing means which can be used here. To improveefficiency of the system and minimize leaks, the panel can be adapted tosealably engage the base and/or the surface, so as to create anair-tight corridor. However having an air-tight corridor is not arequirement for the system to greatly improve the cooling of computercabinets.

The panel can be adapted to be fastened to a vertical surface, such as awall, a horizontal surface, such as the top of the second cabinet (105),or another panel that would be mounted on the second cabinet (105).

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a system in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present invention. In this embodiment of the system, thepanel can slide with respect to the base. As illustrated, the systemcomprises a first rail (200) and a second rail (205) parallel to thefirst rail, and a panel (210) which can slide in the rails (200, 205)following a direction parallel to the rails (220). The system used forsliding racks can be easily adapted to provide for the rails shown inFIG. 2. The rails (200, 205) can be optionally configured so that thepanel (110) can slide from the closed position in the opposite direction(225), thus enabling two deployed positions for the panel. Thus thecorridor can be formed on either side of the cabinet on which animplementation of the system is mounted. A system with only one railcould be implemented as well.

FIGS. 3A & 3B show another embodiment of a system according to one ormore aspects of the present invention, wherein the panel can rotate withrespect to the base.

In FIG. 3A, the panel (320) can rotate around a horizontal axis (330)and is pivotally mounted on the base (310, 315). The base can have arectangular shape, or can have two smaller elements (310, 315) as inFIG. 3A. In FIG. 3B, the panel (350) can rotate around a vertical axis(360) and is attached to the base (340, 345) at that point. The base(340, 345) at have the same characteristics as in the description withrespect to FIG. 3A. The base can also comprise means for sliding theaxis of rotation of the panel in a plane parallel to the base. Slidingthe axis makes the axis translate in a linear motion. That would allowthe panel to pivot on either side of the base easily.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of two cabinets, each with an implementationof a system in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention mounted on top, and comprising:

-   -   a first cabinet (410) with a first implementation of the system        (430) mounted on top of it; and    -   a second cabinet (420) with a second implementation of the        system (440) mounted on top of it.

The panel of the first implementation can be attached to the panel ofthe second implementation using fastening means as described withrespect to FIG. 1. If the panel rotates with respect to the base, as inFIG. 3A or 3B, fastening means on only one side of the panel can sufficeto create that configuration (for example an electromagnet and anarmature plate). If the panel can slide both ways as in FIG. 2,fastening means on each side of the panel can be required to create theconfiguration of FIG. 4. For example, the electromagnet on one side canbe arranged to face the armature plate on the other side, and viceversa. Thus the panel can be fastened on either side, including toanother panel. If the panel can rotate as in FIGS. 3A & 3B, and its axisof rotation can slide with respect to the base, then fastening means ononly one side of the panel are sufficient for the panel to be fastenedon either side of the cabinet.

FIG. 5 shows a view from above of a top cover of a cabinet according toan embodiment of a system comprising one or more aspects of the presentinvention:

-   -   the cabinet (510) can receive a computer (520); and    -   the panel (500) can act as the cabinet cover when in the closed        position, and, when in the deployed or open position, can leave        the cabinet open at its top, so as to create another way for the        hot air to come out of the cabinet.

The panel (500) is thus directly mounted on the cabinet, which thusserves as a base. The cabinet can optionally have one or several rails(530) for allowing the panel to slide in any direction parallel to therail (530). The panel can also be pivotally mounted on the cabinet asdescribed with respect FIGS. 3A & 3B.

FIG. 6 shows a plurality of cabinets having an implementation of asystem in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention,mounted on top. In FIG. 6, the cabinets are aligned to form rows ofcabinets. The panels mounted on top of the cabinets can be moved to forma corridor between the two rows. When the panels are in the deployedposition, they together form an enclosure which covers most of thecorridor thus separating a hot air flow above the enclosure from a coldair flow below the enclosure. Leaks between the two air flows are stillpossible, but they are minimized by such an enclosure. The cold air flowcoming out of the floor below the panel is contained in this corridorand is forced to go through the cabinets so as to cool the computersystems mounted within the cabinets. Each cabinet is, in one embodiment,arranged so that one of its sides, comprising holes for letting airflow, faces the corridor. The width of the cold corridor can thus takevalues between a very small distance, when the two rows are very close,and up to twice the width of a panel.

In another embodiment of a system in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present invention, the system further comprises actuating means,possibly integrated to the base, for making the panel move between theclose and the deployed or open position. Such actuating means can becommonly found, either to make the panel slide (a mechanism similar tothe ones used in CD player can be used) or to make it rotate (using forexample a mechanism used to operate automatic doors). The actuatingmeans can be coupled to remotely activated control means, so that a usercan create the corridor when and on the side he wants, without requiringphysical access to the panel or to the cabinet. It is further possibleto enable such controlling means to be selectively activated, forinstance by providing a unique code, corresponding to the controllingmeans to be activated, at the time when the order for activating thecontrolling means is issued. This enables configuration of cold aircorridors in data centres to be done automatically, possibly controlledby a computer system. This way, it is possible to optimize the coolingof the data centre by searching for the optimal configuration of coldair corridors in the data centre. Such optimization can be done usingknown techniques such genetic algorithms, simulated annealing or others.Optimization can be done on a layout of corridors, just taking advantageof the ability to choose the side on which the panel is deployed, and onthe width of the corridors, potentially all different, thus takingadvantage of the ability to configure the extent to which a panel isdeployed.

In another embodiment of a system comprising one or more aspects of thepresent invention, the system for containing cold air in a corridorcreated on the side of a computer cabinet, comprises a base mountable onthe computer cabinet, and a panel fastened to the base and moveable withrespect to the base, the panel being suitable for separating the coldair in the corridor below the panel from the hot air above the panel.

Those skilled in the art will note from the above description that, inaccordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a system for containing a cold air flow in a corridor in a datacentre, the system comprising a base, adapted for being mounted on topof a first cabinet for receiving at least one computer system, a panelwhich is attached to the base, wherein the panel can move with respectto the base between a closed position and a deployed position, so thatin the closed position, the panel lays on the base, and in the deployedposition, the aggregate width of the panel and the base is approximatelytwice the aggregate width of the panel and the base in the closedposition.

An advantage of this aspect is that such a system can easily be operatedto create a cold air flow corridor when mounted on a cabinet in a datacentre. A further advantage is that when the system is not in use, itcan be easily and securely stored by being put in the close position,without taking much more room than the cabinet itself.

In a first development of the first aspect, the panel is fastened to thebase along an axis around which the panel can rotate.

An advantage is that the fastening means between the panel and the basecan be very robust, and very cheap to make, as such means exist today ina great variety.

In a second development of the first aspect, the panel can slide withrespect to the base, in a plan parallel to the base.

An advantage is that the corridor can be formed even if there is littleroom above the cabinet. A further advantage is that it is easy to makethe panel slide on either side of the cabinet.

In a third development of the first aspect, the base comprises two railsin which the panel can slide.

An advantage is that this allows use of existing robust rails andsliding mechanisms. Furthermore, it is easy to put an actuator in suchsystem to make the panel slide in one direction or another.

In a fourth development of the first aspect, the panel can be attachedto the panel of another system according to one or more aspects of thepresent invention.

An advantage is that the width of the corridor thus formed can be largerthan the length of the panel.

In a fifth development the first aspect, an embodiment of the presentinvention further comprises actuating means for changing the panel'sposition between the close position and the deployed position.

In a sixth development the first aspect, an embodiment of the presentinvention further comprises means for controlling the actuating means,wherein the means for controlling can be remotely activated.

An advantage is that the corridor for a cold air flow can be formedwithout having physical access to the panel.

In a seventh development the first aspect, the controlling means can beselectively activated, so as to allow a user to choose which panel amongseveral should be moved.

An advantage is that the formation of cold air flow corridors can be setwithout entering the data centre. It also allows for automatedexperiments so as to find the optimal corridor configuration for coolingof a data centre using cold corridors techniques.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a cabinet isprovided for receiving at least one computer system comprising a systemmounted on or integrated to its top cover, according to one or moreaspects of the present invention.

An advantage is that such a cabinet is easier to use than a regularcabinet, on which implementations of the present invention must beattached.

According to a first development of the second aspect, the top coverserves as the panel, so that when the panel is in the deployed position,the cabinet is open at the top, and when the panel is in the closedposition, the cabinet is closed at the top.

An advantage is that hot air can get out of the cabinet by the top inaddition to getting out by the side of the cabinet. A further advantageis that less material is required to build a cabinet having thecapability of forming a corridor on its side, thus lowering the cost ofmanufacturing such a cabinet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for optimizing a configuration of cold air corridors in a datacentre comprising a plurality of systems according to one or moreaspects of the present invention, the method comprising: selecting alayout of corridors among a set of possible layouts; selecting a widthfor each corridor; controlling said systems according to claim 8 in thedata centre so as to configure the corridors according to said layoutand said width; and measuring the effects of said corridorsconfiguration on the performance of the cooling system; determiningwhether the selected layout and width improves the performance of thecooling system.

An advantage of this aspect is that performance of the data centre canbe further improved very easily and in an automatic manner.

Further advantages of the present invention will become clear to theskilled person upon examination of the drawings and detaileddescription. It is intended that any additional advantages beincorporated therein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (andany form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (andany form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any formof include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and anyform contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-endedlinking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”,“includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses thoseone or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing onlythose one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or anelement of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains”one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is notlimited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, adevice or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured inat least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are notlisted.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, areintended to include any structure, material, or act for performing thefunction in combination with other claimed elements as specificallyclaimed. The description of the present invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for containing a cold air flow in acorridor in a data center, the method comprising: providing a base tomount on top of a first cabinet for receiving at least one computersystem; providing a panel and attaching the panel to the base, whereinthe panel moves with respect to the base between a closed position and adeployed position, so that in the closed position, the panel lays flaton the base on top of the first cabinet, and in the deployed position,the panel extends outward from over the computer cabinet; and whereinthe attaching comprises fastening the panel to the base along an axisaround which the panel can rotate.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thepanel can slide with respect to the base, in a plane parallel to thebase.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the base comprises two rails inwhich the panel can slide.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the panelcan be attached to the panel of another system for containing the coldair flow in the corridor of the data center.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising providing actuating means for changing the panel'sposition between the closed position and the deployed position.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising providing means for controllingthe actuating means, wherein the means for controlling can be remotelyactivated.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling means canbe selectively activated, so as to allow a user to choose which panelamong several should be moved.
 8. A method comprising: providing acabinet for receiving at least one computer system; and providing asystem for containing a cold air flow in a corridor in a data centermounted on top of the cabinet, wherein the cabinet at least partiallyforms the corridor, the system comprising: a base to mount on top of thecabinet for receiving at least one computer system; a panel to attach tothe base, wherein the panel moves with respect to the base between aclosed position and a deployed position, so that in the closed position,the panel lays flat on the base on top of the cabinet, and in thedeployed position, the patent extends outward from over the computercabinet; and a fastener fastening the panel to the base along an axisaround which the panel can rotate.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thecabinet comprises a top cover, which serves as the panel, wherein withthe panel in the deployed position, the cabinet is open at the top, andwith the panel in the closed position, the cabinet is closed at the top.10. A method for optimizing configuration of a cold air corridor in adata center comprising a plurality of cabinets defining the corridor,the method comprising: providing a plurality of systems, the pluralityof systems facilitating containing cold air flow in the corridor andbeing mounted on top of respective cabinets of the plurality ofcabinets, each system comprising a base mounted to the top of arespective cabinet, a panel attached to the base, wherein the panelreciprocates with respect to the base between a closed position and adeployed position, so that in the closed position, the panel lays flaton the base, and in the deployed position, the panel extends outwardfrom over the respective cabinet, the panel being attached to the basealong an axis around which the panel can rotate; controlling theplurality of systems to configure the corridor; measuring the effects ofthe corridor configuration on the performance of the cooling system; anddetermining whether the selected layout improves cooling performance.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the measuring comprises measuringthe amount of energy required to maintain the temperature in the datacenter at a predefined temperature for a predefined duration givenpredefined external conditions.